PSY 3123 Study Guide - Summer 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Canada, John Howard, Cohabitation
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
PSY 3123
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
PSY3123A
Dr. Mary-Theresa Howard
1. Ch 1 Family 18.06.18-
20.06.18
Movie: Abigayle (Sociologist) – Perspectives of the Family
1) Structural Functionalism – Family is one of 5 basic institutions of society
Schools have assumed the educational responsibilities, but apprenticeship occurs in the family
Mother’s has majority of responsibility for socialization of children through child care, father plays role in
family by working outside the family by providing income and indirectly being role model to children
oFathers don’t see a need for the wife to work, see it as distrust in their ability to provide
oRole play to fulfill functions of society
Simple framework that is unable to adapt to change i.e divorce and child abuse = failure of socialization
2) Conflict theory – males often agree for the sake of keeping harmony
Poorer families are seen to be more harmonious, less money = less choices = less conflict
3) Symbolic interaction – ability to use language is the basis of culture and construction for society
Mutual shared understanding, perspective taking
Subjective role playing activity in family; every member socially constructs their reality
What is Family
Household: a person or group of persons who occupy the same dwelling
Communal living: a group of people, who may or may not be related by birth or marriage, sharing financial
resources and living arrangements
Acting on their religious beliefs, Hutterites traditionally share financial resources, work assignments, and
even meals on a community basis.
When French and English arrived in Canada they encountered First Nations groups with family structures quite
different from those in Europe. Huron families consisted of many people living together in a longhouse. The
residents were often all descendants of a senior female (Baker, 2001). Nowadays we would tend to think of such a
grouping as a household rather than a single family.
Legal Family - Variety of legal definitions exist for family, but there is no fixed legal definition; often changes as a
result of court cases and legislation; changes according to time and place
Government regulations determine family for such services as medical and family benefits
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Common law spouses, single parents with one child, and same-sex couples are al considered families
under various laws and legal definitions
Determined by Statistics Canada, Corectional Service Canada, Air Canada, Vanier Institute of the Family,
Children’s Aide Socitey of Toronto
oEveryone who works in a social services field must learn specific legal definitions of the family in
the course of their work.
Social Definitions – various groups, including religious and ethnic groups, have their own definitions of family
Nuclear family: a family consisting of husband, a wife (married parents), and at least one child
Often called standard North American family, forms basis for what advocates call traditional family values
Family of orientation is family that we are born into and raised in
Family of procreation is formed through marriage or cohabitation; many couples are common law
Extended family encompasses nuclear family and all other relatives
Aboriginal peoples in Canada tend to have a very broad definition of family membership, and children are often
cared for by relatives. If child welfare workers define a family as consisting of parents and children only, then they
may feel that some Aboriginal parents are neglecting or even abandoning their children, when these parents
believe that their offspring are safe within their family circle. Such misunderstandings have led to unnecessary
removal of children from their families (Fox, 2005).
Idiosyncratic Definition – personal definitions of a family
Some cases, close friends are considered family members
In cases of conflict (i.e divorce), a family member may not be considered as belonging, even though they
may be ‘blood’ family member
Ideas about the family fall along a continuum with biological and legal definitions at one end, and social
and personal ones at the other
For most people, biological and social definitions coexist and are used to fit the circumstances.
The concept of family usually includes biological and legal ties as well as emotional attachment (Holtzman,
2005).
Intentional Families: family whose members, though not related by blood or marriage, call themselves a family;
may share residences and a common lifestyle
Decision to join one often arises from human need for companionship and emotional connection that
comes from shared experiences
Modern society encourages frequent and dramatic change i.e moveing to another country for work
Theories – many theories explain what makes families work and how they relate to society as a whole
provides a general framework of ideas that can be used to answer questions about the social world; can
be used alone or in combination with others
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Movie: abigayle (sociologist) perspectives of the family: structural functionalism family is one of 5 basic institutions of society. Schools have assumed the educational responsibilities, but apprenticeship occurs in the family. Simple framework that is unable to adapt to change i. e divorce and child abuse = failure of socialization: conflict theory males often agree for the sake of keeping harmony. Poorer families are seen to be more harmonious, less money = less choices = less conflict: symbolic interaction ability to use language is the basis of culture and construction for society. Subjective role playing activity in family; every member socially constructs their reality. Household: a person or group of persons who occupy the same dwelling. Communal living: a group of people, who may or may not be related by birth or marriage, sharing financial resources and living arrangements. Acting on their religious beliefs, hutterites traditionally share financial resources, work assignments, and even meals on a community basis.
